Pattern mechanism for knitting-machines.



F. WILCOMB. lPATTERN MEGHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLIGATIONFILED Nov17. 190e. RBNEWBD Nov. 29, 1912.

Patented Feb. 25, 1913y 2 SHEETS-B12325221.'

ficel/622i' m W/mwf raf/J@ F. WILGOMB. PATTERN 'MECHANISM FOR KNI'ITING MACHINES. i APPLICATION FILED NOV. 17, 1906. RENEWBD NOV.29,1912. 1,054,478.

Patented Feb. 25,1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fao

. employ a pattern wheel with a kso errno srarns Primr onirica.

WILCOMB, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WILCOMB MACHINE COMPANY, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION.

PATTERN MECIPIANISM FOR KNITTINGJVIACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 25. 1913.

Application filed November 171 1906, Serial No. 343.899. Renewed November 29, 1912. Serial No. 734,193.

fo oZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK zen of the United Statespresiding at Norristown, Pennsylvania, have invented certain v 4 rapidly revolved step b v step, many times ll'iLcoMn, citij 1 The removal ot a plate calls the quick more vlaster than its'slow step by step movement.

` ment into action `for changing the pattern.

new and use'tul Improvements in -Pattern combination and arrangementof parts liei'e- )flechanisin for Knitting-Machines, ot' which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to pattern mechanism for knitting machines. or more properly speaking, to measuring mechanism .tor securing the production by the machine ot certain lengths of t'abric of one kind. at

tei' which certain mechanism is started into` operation to continue the knitting ot a dit- 'fei'ent 'forni or kind of fabric, like, :tor iiistance, the making ot' a heel or toe at'ter knitting the leg' or foot or changing the stitch from one kind to another.

In some types of pattern mechanism thel pattern member consists of an endless chain having at intervals, lugs or rollers tor calling into action certain intermittent movements desired. The chain required is o tten very longr and is objectionable for this and other reasons, and therefore the preferred form of pattern mechanism is that known as the chainless or wheel type.

My invention is an improvement in that class ofpattern wheel mechanism, such for instance as is disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, granted to F. B. Wild- ;man #613346, Nov. 1, 1898.

I have aimed to produce a very simple, in-

lexpensive construction so that the operator may set up the wheel for a certain pattern or length of fabric without necessarily calling 'for a high degree o't' technical skill. I row of plates detachably connected to the wheel. These plates form a continuous concentric circle when all the plates are in place. The removal of a plate enables the pattern wheel to call into action the mechanical moveine'nts required to change the pattern. This wheel-has a step by step movement of an unusually large number of steps. llaking the circumference of the wheel 'for one garment or article manufactured, it has, say, twice the number of steps that would be required in any one fabric with all the plates attached. The wheel alsofhas a tast move.- ment which enables the pattern wheel to be g l. parts boing insectiion.

rllie invention consists in the features,

inalter described and particularly pointed out :in the claims.

ln the drawings, Figure 1is a ,front view oi' the pattern mechanism. Fig. E2 a vertical sectional View looking irom the left ot' Fig. Fig, 3 -is a plan View ot' a section on line 3-3 of Fig. l, parts beixig shown in plan. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views ot' one of the pawls.

ln these drawings, 1 is the main pattern member which l. have shown in the form of a wheel but which is not limited as to its itorni so far as the scope of certain features of this invention is concerned. This pattern wheel is loosely mounted on a shaft 2 carryinjgl or connected with the parts to be controlled by said pattern mechanism. This pattern wheel is provided with anuniber f pattern blocks 3, lixed thereto by screws 4. These pattern blocks, as is well understood, are adapted and are so disposed on the pattern wheel, as to give the desired pattern or formation in the fabric.

The pattern wheel is given a slow or measuring movement through a pinion 5. This pinion is secured to the hub t3 oi a slow motion or measuring wheel 7 and the wheel and pinion are journaled on a pin 8, shouldered at t) and screwed into the frame. Ste-p by' step movement is imparted to the slow motion or measuring wheel by a series of pawls l() and a series of detents 11. These are arranged to engage the ratchet teeth 12 of the measuring or slow motion wheel, being positioned one behindthe other around the circumference ot the wheel.

The paw'ls are mounted in a pawl carrier or plate 12', journaled on the pin 8, above mentioned, Ato which carrier oscillatory movement is imparted as will be hereinafter described. The pawls are live in number in the present case and the movement imparted to the series ot' pawls equals only one-t`1fth of a ratchet tooth and from an inspection oi' Fig. l it will be seen that 4only one paw] is a time, the others being located ett'ective at at different distances back on their respective teeth so that they, one after the other, will become eliective, for as soon as the effe@ tively positioned pawl moves the ratchet an.

other pawl will become effective, and so the 'movement of the ratchet wheel is taken up vv the pawls, one after the other, each one movi-ng said wheel the distance of one-fifth Yat this point `and 'liable to compact.

vthe ratchetwheel and which affords of.a tooth. By this arrangement a very slight step by step movement is imparted to the ratchet or measuring wheel without necessitating the use of tine ratchet teeth, which of course renders the machinedelicate be quickly, affected by wear. w

By the constructiondescribed, I secure ,a fine ratchet movement from a coarse tooth ratchet, and all the pawls andthe detents are'of uniform construction. Further, the

measuring or-slow motion wheel is by this arrangement of pawls kept? narrowl rendering,

ing for the pawl's and them from dropping out when the ratchet wheel is being assembled or when, reason. said wheel is removed.

The ratchet movement is lating movement by a pitinan having a special connection with the said oscillating pavvl carrier to eliminate inaccuracies 'ordinaiily due to wearand particularly where pivot connections are employed. This pit manv iir'the present case consists'of a rod passing through aboss o r bosses 17X on the for any y rear tace of the pawlcarrier wherein said' rod hasfree reciprocatory movement.

' lower end of the rod or pitman is connected `pitman has a pivotally to an operating lever 18X at a point 20 below the center line ofsaid lever. This lever has an oscillating movementim'- 'l parted to it by a crank pin 19 o-n a disk 20 on the main shaft.

The greater part of this motion is taken up by the pitman sliding through the boss and-only the slight movepivot 20 i's imparted to the pawl carrier. This long bearing in the boss or bosses, and the advantage of this over a link connection is that wear will not effect the accuracy of the pawl'carriers movenient as the vertical movementof the rod is a long one, while the vibrating movement is extremely small. The looscness which would develop. in the pivoted link 4wheel will continue.

given its oscilarm. This consists ot' connection 1where such small movement is imparted would be 'im'practicable For giving theI pattern wheel its quick movement for changing the pattern a series oftl ratchet teeth or pins 21 arev carriedI on the rear t'ace ol' the pattern wheel to be engaged at certain times by a pawl 22 pivc-tetd at Q3 to an arm 2l of the llever 18".v This pawl is controlled in its position relativeto the pins Q1 by a loop -or arm 24. engaging a'pin 25 projecting from the said pawl over the said arm or loop. This controlling arm is carried by a block oibracket 26 pivotally supported on the frame of the machine at 2T and-cairying-also a dro-p wire or arm having` its end ing over the rim of the pattern wheel to rest on the blocks li'thereot'. These blocks are set according to the pattern desiredand when the pattern wheel brings a portion thereof having no block thereon to the drop wire, this is allowed to fall thus lowering the controlling or detaining arm ot the pawl and allowingr said pawl 'to engage one of the pins or teeth 21 with the result-that said paw] will gire thepattern wheel a movement equal to the segment represented by the missing` tilck and should two or more blocks lie/missing.v leaving an extended va cant spacel..1hc action ot' the pawl willcontinue until .the drop wire is raisedfby the next block, when the quick movement ot the pattern wheel'will cease and the slow measuring movement of the pawls and ratchet During the quick movementit will be understood that the simply slip by the pawls and detents. rlhe downward movement of th'e drop wire is but slight and not so much as to prevent its lifting by the next pattern block.

In order to insure the full action o t the quick motion pawl 22 and thc maintaining of its grasp on thc tooth tor the tull stroke lprovid'e a yielding connection between thean-d the'diop wire or a pivot 28X- between the controlling arm and theblock or bracket 26 and a siring 2f) bearing on the end. of said control ing arm connection will allow onto the lperiphery of thc pattern block, while at the same time the quick acting pawl will maintain its connection with the pin of the pattern wheel to complete its full movement. thereagainst. The movement ofv the pattern `wheel is communicated 'to the shaft to start v"the pattern or make the change in the fabric by a starter pin 30 on the pattern wheel striking against a pin 31 on the disk 3Q pinned to thc said shaft.

The pawls l() and detents 11A are of like construction, each comprising a hollow cy-` controlling arm 2t bent and. projecti beyond the pivot. rll'iis the diop. wire to rise .teeth ot' the measuringratchet wheel will i lindrical portion 33, slidably mounted in the "il'ating pawl carrier and the detent holder res ectively. The pawls and detent have t eir teeth formed on enlarged heads 36 carried at the inner ends of the said cylindrical portions, said. heads having each a flattened side at 3T bearing against the fiat face of the part. supporting the said pawl or detent, thus preventing the pawl from turning. The pawls and deten'ts 'are pressed normally inwardly by springs 38 located vin the hollow cylindrical portions and held in place by the 'screw caps 3S). These caps have open centers through which the pawls and detents may be oiled. The pattern wheel may be yturned b v hand by grasping the handle 40. The pattern wheel may be constructed with any number ot divisions.

'When the starting` pin of the pattern wheel comes in contact with the pin in the 'pin-holder disk a rotating movement is imparted to the shaft.v This shaft will now 'be rotated, by other means not shown, any part of a complete revolution, when it will stop, waiting another impulse from the pattern wheel. Therefore for illustrationilwe desire to knit say 606 courses of knitting before starting anynew movement. like the making ot' heels and toes ot' stockings, there would be 6. plates attached to the pattern wheel. On the sixhnndred and seventh revolution of the machine the drop wire would fall into the space of the removed plates and thel patternwheel is rapidly moved into contact with the-starting pin of the pin-holder on the shaft. When it has imparted a slight movement to that shaft the, drop arm will be lifted by a plate and the wheel would rotate step by step on its slow movement while the shaft 2 would advance more rapidly nntil it is stopped, awaiting a 'tnrther'impulse 'by the pattern wheel. This operation is repeated at any desired number ot' intervals during the production ot' a garment ot' any kind. on a. knitting machine.

While Il prefer to use as the pattern member a Wheel having the blocks or projections directly thereon, I do not wish to limit myself in this respect.

lVhere I refer to blocks, I mean the plates shown on the pattern wheel or any equivalent pins or project-ions.

l. In combination, in pattern mechanism for a knitting machine, a pattern wheel, a peripheral gear thereon, a. pinion meshing with said gear, pawl andratcliet means ou `the axis of the pinion for turning the pinion slowly and means for giving the pattern wheel a quick movement, and connections for controlling said means Vtrom the pattern blocks, substantially as described.

2. In combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel carrying blocks, means 'for moving said pattern wheel slowly, a pawl for moving said pattern wheel uickly, a drop wire or arm resting on the b ocks and a yielding controlling connection between 'said drop arm and the quick motion pawl, substantially as described.

3. In combination, the pattern wheel carrying the blocks,lmeanstfor giving it a slow motion, a pawl for giving it a quick motion,

a drop arm engaging the blocks, a controlling arm, engaging thev paiwl, a bracket pivoted to the frame and to Wliichthe controlling arm and drop arm are connected and a spring to allow the controlling arm to yield, substantially as described.

4. In combination in pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel carrying blocks, means for giving the wheel a slow motion, a pawl for giving the pattern wheel a quick movement and yielding means for controlling the pawl in turn cont-rolled by the blcks of the pattern wheel, substan tially as described. t

In combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern wheel having pattern blocks and having also gear teeth thereon, means for giving said wheel a slow movement consistimtgf of a pinion meshing with the gear on the pattern wheel, a ratchet wheel on the axis ot the pinion, a pawl carrier oscillating about the axis of the pinion, a series of spring pawlsl on the carrier to engage thc ratchet teeth, a series of spring detents, said pawls and likewise said vdetents being arranged at different points along the` eriphery of the wheel to lie in different relative ositions respecting said teeth, and means ihr giving the pattern wheel a quick movement consisting of a reciprocating pawl, pins on the wheel to be engaged by the pawl, a controller to ride on the pattern blocks, and a connection between the controller and the pawl, substantially as described. y

6; In combination in pattern mechanism it'or knitting machines, a frame, a pattern wheel carrying pattern blocks, and having gear teeth,l a pinion meshing with said teeth, a ratchet wheelbetwcen the pinion and the frame and arranged axially therewith, an oscillating carrier pivotcd on the axis of the ratchet. wheel and between the same and the frame. ay pawl arranged be-` tween the pattern wheel and the frame to give the pattern wheel its quick movement and means controllingl said pawtt'rom the pattern blocks, substantially as described.

T. ln combination, a pattern wheel, a peripheral rear and pattern blocks thereon, a pinion for driving the gear, means for dri ving the pinion, the ratchet teeth on the rear side of the pattern wheel a pawl for giving thc pattern wheel .a quick motion, and means consisting of the drop member restingl on the blocks and a connection extending therefrom alongside the pattern as described.

l A' substantially as described.

the inner end of the pavvl and detent to prevent their dislodgement When the ratchet wheel is removed, substantial@T as described.

9. In combination in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern member, a ratchet for drivingthe same, a paWl carrier having a portion overlying the periph-4 ery of the ratchet Wheel, a paWl radiallyv movable in said overhanging portion and having an. enlarged headon its .inner end with the pawl tooth formed thereon, said head being attened to bear on the face or pawl carrier to prevent turning,r of thepavvl,

l0. Iii/combination, in a pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern -mem- 4ber, a l'atchet Wheel for driving the same,

a ,pawl and oscillating carrier and means for oscillating said carrier consisting of the pit?.`

man having the `Sliding connection therewith and having' also slight lateral movement, substantially as described.

1l. In combination, in pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern member, a

ratchet Wheel connected to said pattern,

member to drive the same, a pavvl and an oscillating pavvl carrier, a pivoted lever and apitma'n pivoted thereto and having a slid! ingconnection with the pawl carrier, substantially as described. 4

12. In combination, a pattern Wheel, a lever, slolw moving driving mechanism for the Wheel, comprising the ratchet Wheel, the

paWl andv oscillating pawl carrier quick moving driving mechanism comprising the pawl, both lthe oscillating pavvl carrier and the quick movingpawl being connected to and operated by the said lever, substantially as described.

. 13. In combination, in a'pattern mechanism for knitting machines, a pattern Wheel, a ratchet with connections thereto for giv.- ing said Wheel'a slow motion, aquick motion pavvl, a paWl and pawl carrier for the ratchet'wheeh'a two armed'lever a pitman connection between one arm ot said lever and thepawl carrier, said leverca'rrying thev quick acting pawl on its other arm.

In testimony whereof, l affix my signa ture in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK WiLcoMn; i

" lVitnesses:

WM. F. DANNnHoivnn, GHAs. Koruna. 

